Request to work part time

[Piggywaspushed]

Hi all. Am posting here because I know lots of you know the ropes re part time teaching!

My DH is meeting with his head (private secondary) tomorrow to discuss reducing his hours next year. (potentially to about 50%)

A lot of this is male pride but he is not keen to discuss his reasons for the request with his head. Does he have to? I know, for women (and some men these days) queries aren't often raised because it is to do with young children , childcare and so on but it will be obvious to the head that this is not the reason.

What are the usual procedures? Any experience or pearls of wisdom gratefully received!

I’m a teacher and requested flexible working. Do you have children? I think (at least in my place) the right to flexible working is only if you have care of a child.
If I was him I would come up with a solution before his meeting; ie would a job share work? The head would probably be more likely to agree to a 50 percent timetable as easier to staff than 80 percent etc. Good luck to him.

We do have children, yes, bu they are teenagers... I actually thought anyone had a right to request flexible working? I shall look into that!

Anyone does have a right to flexible working however he will definitely need to tell them why.

Will he? OK. He needs to swallow his pride then , or think of a reason which is palatable.

Please do look into this, I find it really difficult to believe he’d have to tell them why.
When I went part time I didn’t say why as part of my application to do so, all I did was give the reasons why it wouldn’t impact / would be good for the ‘business’ (in my case, NHS)
Implying that a decision to grant part time or flexible working might be dependent on having children erm. No.

Yes, I concur dun .

I think in teaching it's difficult to see why it wouldn't impact but will see what his head says.

Is it stress/mental health reasons? It’s fine to cover that as health issues if the question comes up.

Likewise if it’s for family reasons he can say caring responsibilities.

Struggling to think of a reason he would want part time that’s embarrassing if I’m honest.

Yes, to the first thing. It's not something that he has discussed at school. He has not taken time off due to stress (other than the odd day with stomach upsets clearly caused by anxiety) so it wouldn't be obvious to the head. He also won't engage with counselling etc. He is your classic male who won't discuss such matters.

Also, he hates teaching...

Anybody can request flexible working. You only need to state from when you want to work part time and how this could be done at your place of work, not why.

Thank you. DH met with his head today who was pretty supportive. He is going to speak to timetable people and get back to him by the end of term.

He didn't ask why : he did ask if he was refused part time would he then perhaps leave , so that's obviously the head's main concern!

As PP have said, anyone can request flexible working. However in my opinion it would be worth explaining why. Some staff at my school have gone part time after struggling with stress.